The Little Potato Company has opened a new $39.5-million packaging plant in the Edmonton bedroom community of Nisku, Alta.

The 240,000-square-foot facility is located in the Nisku Business Park.

“The new facility showcases pioneering technology that revolutionizes the way little potatoes are washed, sorted and packaged, prioritizing eco-friendly processes,” the company said in a news release.

Little Potato chose the site because of its proximity to exceptional agricultural regions, dedicated family growers, efficient transportation networks and a skilled workforce, the company added.

“Our innovative facility is built with future generations in mind,” said Co-founder and CEO Angela Santiago. “We are ensuring that we lead in eco-friendly production to meet growing demand for families wanting to serve delicious and nutritious whole food quickly.”

One quarter of the facility’s energy is generated by 3,288 solar modules, marking the second largest privately funded rooftop microgenerator in Alberta, according to the company.

“Additionally, a state-of-the-art water recycling system has been installed, allowing the facility to recycle water used in washing little potatoes,” said the company. “This groundbreaking system significantly reduces water usage, lowers operational expenses, and boosts both the value and safety of our products.”

The has the capacity process approximately 56.7 million kilograms (125 million pounds) of little potatoes potatoes per year. Roughly 70% of the capacity will be used mainly for exports to the U.S. The Alberta government contributed $1.3 million to the project through its Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit program.

Founded in 1996 in Edmonton, Little Potato services 20,000 retailers across Canada and the U.S.